JPH0442647Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Purpose of the invention] (Field of industrial application) The present invention relates to a drain discharge device, and in particular, a method for pumping drain water generated from an air conditioner heat exchanger, etc. once using a drain pump. This invention relates to an improvement in a drain discharge device for discharging water to the outside.

(Prior Art) In a ceiling-mounted or built-in air conditioner, a drain discharge device as shown in FIG. 1 is generally employed.

As shown in the figure, an indoor heat exchanger b and a fan c are provided in the casing a of the air conditioner, and below the indoor heat exchanger b, the heat generated by the indoor heat exchanger b during cooling operation is disposed. A drain pan d is provided to collect and store dripping drain water e.

This drain pan d has a dish-like shape with an open top, and a drain pipe f and a drain pump g for guiding the collected drain water e out of the casing a are disposed inside the drain pan d.

In a ceiling-mounted or built-in air conditioner with such a configuration, a method for discharging the drain water e outdoors is to use a drain pump g.
A configuration is adopted in which the water is once pumped up by the pump and then drained naturally using the slope of the drain pipe f.

That is, by providing a drain pump g at the inlet of the drain pipe f, raising the drain pipe f from the drain pump g, and folding it back outside the casing a, drain water can be pumped using the step of the rising part h of the drain pipe f. e is naturally discharged outdoors.

(Problem to be solved by the invention) However, according to such a drain discharge device, when the drain pump g is stopped, the drain water e in the rising portion h of the drain pipe f flows into the drain pump g.
The water flows back into the drain pan d through the drain pan d, raising the water level inside the drain pan d.

In order to prevent the drain pan d from overflowing due to the backflow of this drain water e, conventionally the depth of the drain pan d had to be set relatively deep in consideration of the amount of drain water e flowing back. There was a problem in that as d became larger, the ventilation resistance of the air passing through the casing a increased, and the casing a itself of the air conditioner also became larger.

In addition, if the drain pump g is restarted in this state, the drain water e that has once flowed back will have to be pumped up again, which deteriorates the efficiency of draining the drain water e and is uneconomical.

Furthermore, in recent years, due to the diversification of the installation positions of air conditioners, there are cases where it is not possible to make the rising part h long or the slope of the drain pipe f cannot be made.
In such a case, when the drain pump g is stopped, the drain water e not only in the rising portion h but in the entire drain pipe f will flow backwards.

Therefore, the present invention was devised to effectively solve the above problems, and prevents the drain water discharged through the drain pipe by the drain pump from flowing back when the drain pump is activated or stopped. hand,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a drain water discharging device that can improve drain water discharge efficiency and achieve downsizing of a drain pan and casing.

[Structure of the invention] (Means for solving the problem) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention drains the drain water generated in the casing of an air conditioner by a drain pipe extending from a drain pump. Provided is a drain discharge device for discharging to the outside, which is equipped with an on-off valve in the drain pipe, and an on-off valve control means that closes the on-off valve before stopping the drain pump and opens it after starting the drain pump. do.

(Function) According to the above configuration, by closing the on-off valve provided on the drain pipe before stopping the drain pump and opening it after starting, drain water flows back from the drain pipe when the drain pump is stopped. can be prevented from happening.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an indoor unit of, for example, a ceiling-mounted or built-in air conditioner. This is the same as the example, and detailed explanation will be omitted.

Inside the drain pan 4 in the casing 1, a drain pump 6 for increasing the pressure of the collected drain water 5 and pumping it out of the casing 1, and a motor 7 for driving the drain pump 6 are provided.

Furthermore, a drain pipe 8 is connected to the drain pump 6, and this drain pipe 8 rises from the drain pump 6, is folded back downward outside the casing 1, and is extended to the outside of the room.

That is, the drain pipe 8 has a rising portion 9 extending from the drain pump 6 to the outside of the casing 1.
From there, it is folded back at a predetermined slope and extended to the outside of the room.

The rising portion 9 of the drain pipe 8 is provided with a general electromagnetic on-off valve 10 for opening and closing the rising portion 9 to control the flow of the drain water 5.

This on-off valve 10 and the motor 7 of the drain pump 6
is connected to a control means 11, and this control means 11 closes the on-off valve 10 before the motor 7 of the drain pump 6 stops, and opens the on-off valve 10 after the drain pump 6 is started. It's summery.

Next, the operation will be explained based on the above-described configuration.

When the air conditioner is operated for cooling, drain water 5 is generated from the indoor heat exchanger 2, drips into the drain pan 4 below, and is stored.

At this time, the control device 11 controls the drain pump 6 in synchronization with the start of operation of the fan 3 due to the start of the cooling operation.
is driven, and after a predetermined period of time has elapsed, the on-off valve 10 is opened.

According to this, the rising part 9 is opened after the pressure of the drain water 5 has been sufficiently increased by the drain pump 6, so that the drain water 5 located above the rising part 9 is prevented from flowing back. can do.

Further, when the thermostat is turned off or the cooling operation is stopped, the on-off valve 10 is closed in synchronization with the stoppage of the fan 3, and the drain pump 6 is stopped after a predetermined period of time has elapsed.

According to this, since the drain pump 6 stops after the on-off valve 10 is closed, it is possible to prevent the drain water 5 from flowing back until the on-off valve 10 is completely closed.

Furthermore, even when the rising portion cannot be made long or the slope of the drain pipe cannot be taken, backflow of drain water can be reliably prevented.

In this way, by opening and closing the on-off valve 10 with a predetermined time lag from when the drain pump 6 is started and stopped, the drain pump 6 can be opened and closed no matter what condition the rising section 9 or the drain pipe 8 is installed. boot·
The backflow of drain water 5 during stoppage is eliminated, and the amount of drain water 5 collected in drain pan 4 can be reduced accordingly, so that drain pan 4 can be made smaller.

In particular, when downsizing the drain pan 4, reducing the depth of the drain pan 4 can reduce the ventilation resistance of indoor air passing through the indoor heat exchanger 2.

[Effects of the invention] In summary, the present invention provides the following excellent effects.

(1) No matter how the riser or drain pipe is installed, backflow of drain water from the riser or drain pipe can be prevented.
The drainage efficiency of drain water is improved.

(2) The drain pan can be made smaller and the ventilation resistance of air passing through the indoor heat exchanger can be reduced.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a drain discharge device according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a conventional drain discharge device. 1...Casing, 2...Indoor heat exchanger, 5...
...Drain water, 6...Drain pump, 8...Drain pipe, 10...Opening/closing valve, 11...Control device.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] In a drain discharge device that discharges drain water generated within a casing of an air conditioner to the outside of the casing through a drain pipe extending from a drain pump, the drain pipe is provided with an on-off valve, and the on-off valve is connected to the drain pump. A drain discharge device characterized by comprising an on-off valve control means that closes the valve before stopping and opens the valve after starting.